The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Administrative Assistant / Office Support
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Organisation, scheduling, communication, basic data entry, managing multiple priorities for different team members.
You're ready to move on when
- You're the go-to person for getting things organised in your current role.
- You're comfortable handling phone calls and emails from a variety of people.
- You enjoy solving small, practical problems that make other people's lives easier.
- 2
Customer Service Representative
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Active listening, problem de-escalation, clear communication (written and verbal), managing customer expectations, quick thinking.
You're ready to move on when
- You can handle a difficult customer call and still keep your cool.
- You're good at explaining complex information in simple terms.
- You genuinely enjoy helping people and finding solutions to their issues.
- 3
Facilities Assistant / Caretaker Support
0-1 yearSkills to master
- Basic building maintenance awareness, health and safety protocols, vendor interaction, physical property inspections, practical problem-solving.
You're ready to move on when
- You have a natural curiosity about how buildings work.
- You're comfortable being on-site and spotting physical issues.
- You're happy to get your hands dirty (metaphorically, mostly!) to help solve a problem.